The author defines "police" as "the totality of authorities and institutions entrusted by law with the executive tasks of the maintenance of order and the repression of criminality." In discussing the police role to maintain order, the author focuses on politically or socially motivated protest that has the potential for disorder (demonstration, marches, industrial conflict, road blocks, etc.). Such public disorder can be distinguished from "crime," because crime has a universal negative value; whereas, political protest and disorder may be part of needed change. Also, crime is an ongoing threat, and political protest is sporadic, depending on historical circumstances; crime affects individual citizens and local communities, whereas, political protest primarily affects the political regime. Should the public view police as primarily an instrument for quelling all threats against the existing political regime, the police role in countering crime is compromised. What is needed is a separation of "criminal" policing (policing that focuses on crime without political connotations) from police activities that focus on the maintenance of public order in the face of political protest. If "criminal" police are used to put down political protesters, such police will be regarded as a political enemy by segments of the community, thus undermining trust. The public should clearly perceive that the "criminal" police are not agents of the political regime. 18 references